Owner Letter
April 1999SUBJECT:
Recall UE Install Coolant Pressure Throttle Unit
Dear Corrado Owner:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
Volkswagen has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some 1992 through 1994 model Volkswagen Corrado vehicles equipped with 6-cylinder (VR6) engines. Our records show that your Corrado is one of the vehicles affected by this recall.
DEFECT DESCRIPTION
The defect involves the coolant system of your Corrado vehicle. A malfunction of a coolant system component such as the thermostat, fan belt, thermo switch, fan motor or water pump, if not serviced in a timely manner, could cause the coolant temperature and pressure to increase significantly. An increase in pressure could result in coolant leakage, including leakage from the heat exchanger, in particular in high mileage vehicles. Leakage of hot coolant from the heat exchanger could cause injury to the feet of the driver or steam up the interior of the vehicle and temporarily impair the driver's visibility. Overheating of the coolant is indicated by the illumination of a warning light on the instrument panel.
REMEDIAL REPAIR
Your authorized Volkswagen dealer will install, free of charge, a pressure reducing device into the cooling system circuit of you Corrado. Your dealer will also perform a functional check of the entire cooling system and replace any leaking heat exchanger.
Please note that after the recall work is performed you may notice that the cooling fan continues to run longer or more frequently than usual after you have turned off the engine, in particular, in warm weather. This is normal and is designed to cool the engine more effectively. The current draw from your battery during fan operation is very low and will not affect the performance of the Corrado battery.
FUNCTIONAL CHECK
Overheating can also occur if the thermostat is not opening properly, the radiator fan is not working, the fan belt is loose, the water pump or water hose is leaking or the radiator air flow is obstructed. If your dealer diagnoses any of these problems during the functional check, the dealer service representative will advise you of the nature of the problem and the cost of correcting it. Because the performance of such repairs constitutes normal maintenance, your dealer will perform them at your expense.
REPAIR SCHEDULE
Replacement parts and repair instructions for the recall work will be available at Volkswagen dealers no later than April 1,1999.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
Please contact the Service Department of any authorized Volkswagen dealer and schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Please present the enclosed form, which identifies your vehicle to your dealer when you bring your Volkswagen in for service.
ANTICIPATED REPAIR TIME
The recall work will take approximately two hours. If additional work is required as the result of the functional check your dealer will inform you of the additional time required.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
If your Corrado has equipment installed by sales or service facilities or persons other than an authorized Volkswagen dealer, such as an alarm system, cellular telephone or disc player, which needs to be removed in order to replace a leaking heat exchanger, the cost of removal and reinstallation will be your responsibility.
PRECAUTION
If, prior to the time that the recall work can be performed, the coolant temperature warning light illuminates during vehicle operation, you should activate your emergency flasher, pull of the road as soon as you can safely do so, stop your car and contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer.
SERVICE PROBLEM HELP
If your authorized Volkswagen dealer fails or is unable to remedy the defect free of charge within a reasonable time, please call or write to:
Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Attn: Customer Relations - 2F02 (UE)
3800 Hamlin Road
Auburn Hills MI 48326-2855
Toll-free Telephone: (800) 822-8987
If you still cannot obtain satisfaction, you may file a complaint with:
Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration;
U.S. Department of Transportation;
400 Seventh Street SW;
Washington, DC 20590.
Telephone: (800) 424-9393 (Washington, DC area: 366-0123).
We regret any inconvenience this matter may cause; however, we hope that you share our concern for making sure that your Corrado is safe and operates to your satisfaction.
Thank you for driving a Volkswagen.